From: Egcm
Dignity for All Students Passes 1st Committee in California
Sacramento, CA (EGCM) Dignity for All Students, California bill AB 1001 by
Assemblymember Sheila Kuehi (D- Los Angeles), passed Its first hearing (6-4)
in Assembly Higher Education Committee. The bill is scheduled for another
hearing in Assembly Education soon.
AB 1001 Is cosponsored by the LIFE AIDS Lobby and the California Teachers
Association. Advocates for the bill are gearing up for extensive testimony
before the Assembly Education Committee. Money is being raised to cover the
transportation costs of gay and lesbian teenagers from around the slate to get
to Sacramento to testify. P-FLAG chapters north and south are conducting a
letter writing campaign.
"Based on the earlier hearing in Assembly Higher Education," commented Laurie
McBride, LIFE's Executive Director, "getting AB 1001 out of Assembly Education
will be difficult The tone of debate is extremely nasty this year. We have
great champions like Sheila Kuehl, Wally Knox, Richard Katz, and Marguerite
Archie-Hudson, to name just a few. But questioning by opposition is
antagonistic and harsh. Their rhetoric creates a climate of fear that affects
both conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans. Even though sympathetic,
they're afraid to vote for our bills. It's not about public policy it's the
politics of intimidation."
AB 1001 would amend existing education codes to include covering sexual
orientation from discrimination. Schools should be a safe and secure
environment for all students. Taunts, harassments, physical and verbal abuse
should not be tolerated. But too often school officials look the other way
when students are being attacked as gay or lesbian. Existing education codes
prohibit discrimination in access to programs and classes, instructional
materials and activities, school sports, and the hiring, promotion and firing
of school faculty and staff.
Send your letters of support to: Assemblymember Sheila Kuehi, State Capitol,
Room 4164, Sacramento. CA 95814. Her district telephone is 818-501-8991.
Send letters of support to:
Assemblymember Doris Allen, Orange County: 16057 Beach Blvd; Huntington Beach,
CA 92647; phone her at 714-843-9855.
Assemblymember Joe Saca, San Bernardino County: 201 North E St; San
Bernardino, CA 92401; phone him at 909-885-2222.
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